Marriage in Registrar's Office (Section 20); and (E) Preparation and Delivery of Hari'iage Certificate

[uEiORAITDTJI.!,

To;- The Secretary, Western Pacific Hi^ Coimaission.

30th January, 1942#

Fees chargeable for perforrainp; Civil Ilarrlages

In Pitcairn Island,

The Chief laglsti'ate has asked to be given a ruling as to the fees v;hich should be charged by hira for perforjiing marriages. The fees in question are laid down in the second schedule to the Pacific Islands Civil

Order in Coimcil, 1907j but for a long time it has been the custom to charge a flat rate of 11/- for each marriage performed, thou{^ no one has any idea how this particular figure was originally arrived at.

2, The various steps to a civil marriage, as performed on Pitcairn, are as follows:- (a) receipt and filing of IJotice of I.Iarrlage (section 6)j (b) entering of notice of Carriage (section 9)j (c) issue of Registrar's Certificate (section 10)j (d) marriage in Registrar's Office (section 20); and (e) preparation and delivery of hari'iage Certificate

(sections 22 end 23)• The combined fee for (a) and (b) is clearly 3/-j for (c) 2/-J and for (d) 4/-; making a total of 9/- in all for the four

services# 3, The only doubtful point would appear to be whether a further fee (in addition to the I arrlage Pee) should be charged for making out the Certificate of Liarrlage, in triplicate, required by sections 22 and 23: and, if a fee is necessary, should it bo 6/- (i*e* 2/- for each copy of the certificate) or 2/-,

4, My own view, based purely on a careful reading of

the Order in Council, is tliat the line In the second schedule

reading V

- 2 -

reading "On issue of each certificate ^ certified copy thereof 2/-" has reference solely to the Issue of Registrar's Certificates under section 10 and that no fee should be charged for the Marriage Certificate Itself, which Is merely a certification that the marriage has been duly performed and should therefore be Included in the fee of 4/- charged "on every Marriage In Registrar's office". Supjortlng this vlev/ is the fact that, while the fee Is expressly raontionod in section 10, thei'e is nothing In sections 22 or 23 to suggest that one is required. 5f Mr Aiiibler, who raised the question of fees In 1934 - vide (8) In M.P.2631/34 - was of the opinion that the extra 2/- must be intended for "certifying an extract" and that In any ca e It should not be charged. 6. Apart from the point us to tiae aiount of the fees which should be levied. It would appear that all fees for civil marriages on Pitcalna were remitted by the Acting IIl^x Xtfl Commissioner In 1932, under Article 32 of the Order In ao a' Coxincll - vide I.P.610/32. It would not seem that the Islanders were Informed of this remission, which was based on the grounds of their poverty, and they have continued to remit a fee of 11/- In respect of each marriage performed

since that date. 7. Owing to their Inability to export their orange crop the Islanders are now In a far worse financial position than In 1934 (In fact they are In a hopeless state of debt)

and It Is reco'iimended that the Chief Magistrate be Informed

that:- (a) the correct fee for performing civil marriages Is 9/- and not 11/-J and that

(to) Ills Excellency the. High Commissioner has agreed to the|

re..rlssion •v:v:rV„:/ t: -

Minute In M.P.2665/40. -V" 'X-- • nV- i- -•• ''»*

'^J.V. ^ Hie Secretary, 6» ij" ' .'t' j 1^' •• . As stated by Dr Steenson in para. 3 of (13), it

is the officers in out-stations (excluding Tarawa) who at i' times suffer privations due to the absence of any means of

obtaining stores from Ocean Island. I feel strongly that

these officers, whether stationed at Butaritari, Beru, Hull

;' Island, or elsewhere, should be permitted to write or

••V". . telegraph their store orders to an Ocean Island official

! .'v detailed to deal with them, as recommended by Dr Macpherson

in para, 3 of (11) and para. 1 of (26), and supported by

Dr Steenson in para. 3 of (13). This official should see « that the order is filled and shipped by the first opportunity.

Until the Government is prepared to make this small

concession for officers who live isolated lives on the

outer islands it would appear idle to blame the the B.P.G.

for their shortcomings.

2. My wife and I have lived at Beru, with intervals, since 1929 and have only once experienced serious supply

difficulties as far as the B.P.G. v,rere concerned - the incident mentioned by Dr Macpherson in (26). At the same

time we could seldom order stores from Ocean Island since

we had no news of shipping movements and there was no one

at Golony headquarters entmisted, as part of his official

duties, v/ith seeing that an order reached us by the first,

or Indeed any, opportunity.

3. For the local Government to pay more attention to

facilitating the maintenance of an adequate dietetic standard among officers far removed from noi*mal means of obtaining

supplies, instead of regarding it as solely the private

concern of the official, would appear to be sound economy;

the results of malnutrition are expensive to the administrat

ion as well as to the officer. 8.2'r42^ «( . ; • r f ».*N 'I- ''i'i'- . V j, v;' ' Sh%:.

I.' ,• His Excellency, ted with minutes (25) and (28) above. The question must now be l^^f-i- • ^ in abeyance in view of present circumstances? But th^- e strengthening of the Treasury and Customs staff in Ocean t island recently approved would, I had hoped, provide staff I or a proper system of keeping of Government stores, ® duties of seeing to supplies for officers in out-stati ^ could have then been delegated to the storekeeper.

when, the4-1^ Colonyr. nic, ^ „ ^tiould be borne in mind for action ® ^Sain ®o of the Japanese?

10.2.42.

:r . ••. Sec., '..Jr : I entirf endor particular the reo Maude's minute (28) and in °^6ndat. Careful n bis para. 1. •^cte , explicit instructs ^ matter so that may ba the proposal when the R.C. implementing ^dtnim ^^ration is resumed,

r : > 11.2.42.

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SB te' •itfA 40- f •'•Xi • • xi . 1. \-'i •• •vt r' 'V

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J t' ••• -'y.. •. ••'S'c^yry:-y. .y • .i k . • » ••yAt- I' • ' 4'*- » t'' -'••I••*ay y.;.'-' ;»•••'.•• >.;y,v-y ,.;/''Memoraii^m^yy^ f.y •V •-:• ••- y'..-v.yy- = ,•,••. ••.yy--; ;• •;--.-,i: y. y:., y: •" •'^ ' •'•'f .. '.y'/'r(»'.r-. y""v.y- ••• •- • ^ ' 'a. ••;' ••T> -••a-. w',!"' ••••, •"... • ;••.•-•.• •":••>;'•.«• 'H-' V j:• :,-y':-av O•' •-•• '.16th February, 1942. .T-,- • •• . , , y, ' .-. • -.1 • . • •• . -v" • • 1 . . .s«l'. , ,••''> V• :..••••-V "IT. •,•" 4-<' fc 4..''. • .Vyy-' •: '-•,• •• •••jik .- *•>'• ji'-' - •• *1 ' •" •Native Carriages In the Gilbert and Elllce lalanda Colony.

'r ' '•.• . '' '.*II I ,•kyijiy . '•' In the following memorandusi I have endeavoured to k ./ii suEuaariae the present position with regard to native and inixod

- laarrlagcs and to submit recommendations v/hich it is hoped Eiay

. .v.,'; *•' •• • y • * assist to close the matter finally. The question of purely native marriages has been separated from that of marriages in

•" 1, ... .', which one party only is of native status.

v I"

2* Bhere both parties are natives they can now only be

married by - . >s (1) a registered minlstci', who roust be a British subject, imdor the Pacific Order in Coxmcil, 1895} (2) a Registrax' oi' i/Iarriages, under the Pacific Islands Civil Marx'iages Order in Council, 1907; or (3) a Native Magistrate, under section 58 of the Native Govenimcnts Ordinance, 1941# In actual practice, however, all such marriages are now being

performed by Native Magistrates, since - (1) all Catholic priests in the Colony registered to perform marriages are, at the moment, forcignera;

(2) the Protestant missionaries are content to leave native ioarriages to the ITative Coxirts} and (S) Kegisii'ars of larx-lagos, who are Government officials, have never exercised their functions where both parties ifore natives except, on rare occasions, in islands possessing no Native Government# Section 58 (4) of the Native Governments Ordinance, 1941, lays

down that, "It shall be an offence for the ocaitracting parties to a marriage (botii being natives) to xmdergo any other form of ceremony prior to that performed by the Ilagistrate", the penalty being imprisoniaent up to 6 months or a fine not exceeding £5,

One or two . r' ' j . f ^ i j ^ r.'.' • ••- ., •. ,!.. • • s • . *•,;>•• • ••• . .••i; •'I'

- 2 ^ •'-

>•''!»• :r : '•% '. o'. • •*• i 'J • . One or two px'oeucutlona should flbon stop any fxirther Invalid

;• solomninations under Qneen's liegulatioai ,7iO. 1 of 1896#

•4 -vl'l .'•'-•vl' 3> This is clearly a imich moro satisfactory state of affairs than anything in the past* I am in full agrcomont,

y^^r- however, with para, 11 of your minute at (47), in which you

-•> .V urge that the Pacific 0*1,0, should be aaondod with a view to ; is-C. * excluding marrlf-gcs in which both pai»tiea are natives from the

Vprovisions of Ai'ticles 118-129, This is important not only S to provide In advance against mari'lages being performed by

•I?' .' Catholic priests who are British subjects but also against the K.'• admittedly more unlikely possibility of a change taking place f in the policy of the Protestant mission. There have been several priests of British nationality in the Gilbert Islands during recent years. Including tiie last Bishop, and there is one at Abalang Island at the moment^ thou^ he has not as yet

applied to bo registered to perform the iiiarrlage ceremony*

4, dVhere one party only is a native the marriage can b© solemnized as in (1) and (2) of para, 2 above tmd also by «• (3) a foreign ulnistcr registered under Quean*s Regulation llo. 1 of 1896.

Such marriages cannot be solemnized by Native Magistrates under

the Native Govomaonts Ordinance, 1941, 5, In the case of these mixed marriages (of whlchj on an average, there arc leas than 2 a year in the entire Colony)

questions of probate and Inheritance are apt to arise and I suggest'that it Is important that they should be registered at a central registry such as Suva, thus guaranteeing a pemanent

record of the iiiai'riage and enabling proper search and the issue of certified copies of entries in a legally acceptable form. It la equally Important, however, that an entry recording the

marriage should also be made in the Scribe's Marriage Register

in the Island to which tdae native partner to the marriage

belongs«

. r? 6, In previous , ..I.. •• •.•.•.•••• t\, ••^:-1»V '! "• ••% ,•••• ^ /"r. ••'- •• • •' - 3 - •• -:

• • ' ""•

. •, ....t y f • • 4 -|r •^j' 6# In previous coi'responclence It has been suggested

that the most convenient course would be to enact an a:.iendlng ,'

Ordinance requiring ofriclating ministers^ waetlier i'ogisterod '"U- s • V xinder the Pacific Order in Council, 1893, or Queen*s Regulation

:.. 4 no* 1 of 1896, to send a copy of the marriage certificate to ^:A. the Scribe of the island to which the native painty to the " marriage belongs* The Catholic priests in the Gilbert Islands have, however, consistently neglected to comply with the legal formalities laid down in the Queen's Regulation (vide(f) of M*P* 825/38) and I see no reason to suppose that they would

treat the amending Ordinance with any greater respect; it would

be almost impossible to check whether the copies hud been sent

in cases where tlie native partner to the marriage cane from another island* Purtheraiore, the legal dlscuaaion on this question has now been going on for over 11 years (vide paras, 2

& 3 of wjuld seem desirable to seek the easiest and

speediest way out of the maze of despatches, reports^ and

minutes which have resulted*

7* It is submitted, therefore, that in lieu of the

enactment of an a;;iending Ordintuice it would be both simpler and

more satisfactory if the purtlculors roquii'ed for the Scrlboa'

Marriage Registers could bo sent direct frotu the office of the

Roaldent Cou:iii3siQner« The marriage certificates have to pass

through tlae Resident Commissioner's office in any case, en route

to Suva, and copies of Uie relevant portions of the certificates of the 1 or 2 mixed mari'lages per anniam now being registered could easily be translated Into the vernacular and forwarded to t^e Scribes by the Secretary to Government, tiiua ensuring tdiat

the work is actually done* Forias, duplicating the columns of

the Native Govei*nraent Marriage Registers, could be prepared in

Oilberteae and Ellioe all that would then have to be dene

would be to fill la the appropriate form and post it. The

procedure recormaended • • I •• '-'i .(•I lA\% • f x '• A I• jl: 'l

- 4 -

procedure recomLiended above would thus be similar to that

adopted in the case of births, marriages, or deaths occurring

in Panning or V/asliington Islands, where copies of the certific*

ates are invariably forwarded to the islands of tdxe persons

concerned and tlie necessary particulars entered in the local

registers.

8» V/ith regard to native and mixed marriages under the Pacific Islands Civil L'ari'iagea Order in Council, 1907, (there

have been some half dozen in the Colony since 1916), it is

.considei'ed tliat these should still bo pcrraittcd, as otherwise marriages in Panning, V/ashington, or Christmas Islands would b© i-r liiposaible, but that circular instructions should bo issued bo Registrars directing tliem, in every case in which one or both parties to a uiarriagc performed by tliem are natives, to forward

the particulars required for entry in the Native Govenament

Itt'ari^iage Registers direct to the Scribe of the island to which

each native party belongs.

9. Ihe following represents a brief sumary of the action which should, in ray submission, be t&zen in order finally

to close this rather involved matter:- (1) The Resident Coorailssloner to bo directed by despatch to forward the necessaz>y particulars concerning each mixed marriage under tiie P.O.l.C. or >^een*s Hog. IIo* 1 of 1896 to the Scribe of the island to which the native pai'ty belongs, for entry in the local Carriage Register - (para, 6)* (2) Registrars of Marriages under the Pacific Is# Civil Marriages O.i.C,, 1907, to bo instructed by circular to foi'ward similar particulars direct - (para. 7). (3) The Pacific O.i.C. to be aaiended in order to exclude native max^riages from the provisions of Articles 118-129 - (para. 2). There would appear to be no reason why Recoaciendation (1) and (2) should not be proceeded with forthwith, even if ReccHiimondatiGai

(3), which has not

«''5I •• -• ' - -- • - • ' t '

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X' •: -., V • -.- - - . .y ' - 5 « V S'. '*• • '4- . (3), which has not the sasie urgency, has to he delayed pending .T .•»< -•* the general revision of the Pacific Order in Council#

(Signed). H.E. Maude.

'''j Cliief Lends Cojmnl&sioner, I if- T. ! •. ' .* "C ,# .. -..h' •-• .1- ' i- Gilbert and Elllce Islands Colony# - -1. i - -t •»T r . - • •* '-"'V-'-f J i. •' .'vr'.'V-'

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\ : 4 IAEL:01^A::OUII.

Proia;~ The Chief Lands Goumissioner, G« & E.I.C#

12th I.^arch, 1942.

Closed Districts In the Gilbert and Elllce Islands Colony»

I have been asked in (163) to record my views

regarding the policy as to Closed Districts, with special

reference to Bishop Terrienne'a statenents In and

and the Acting Resident Co iniissioner'a comiienta in para, 9 of@ . 2. The statenients made by the Bishop regaiding my

views are as follows (1) Maude who Imows the natives best after Mr Gririblo told me some weeks ago that at the condition of some precautions taken by the Covoi'nr.cnt there would be no fear of break of peace for protecting the liberty of consclonce of every body and t :e liberty of the catholics landowners on Tainana or Arorac who^v/ox-ld go back to their own land and live as catholics there". 30.9.39. (2) "It is the opinion of Mr Maude, the District Officer knowing the natives best since Mr Grlmble. lie allowed me to use his name fox' that purpose and told me that, at the condition of some precautions, as, for instance, a visit of a District Officer explaining to the population the freedom of everybody in relig ious matter, no bresch of peace or bloodshed would be feared in starting a Catholic Mlcsion". 11.7.41. In coi;Kienting on (2), Mr Garvey states that;- © "The Bishop's statement Is certainly not in accordance with the official attitude adoptsd by Mr Maude as regards Closed Districts, as all the cox'respondence here goes to pi'ove that he la a whole-hearted support er of the measure". 1.12.41. 3. Both the Bishop's statements evidently refer to the same conversation, which took place at Beru Islend dixrlng August or Septembbr, 1939» In February, 1940, I submitted the following coroments on the Bishop's first

statement as i^eproduced above

"Lest Lish( •• 2 *•

"Lest Bishop Terriemie^s remark on page 3 of his letter at 28a should lead to a- misxmderstending I would point out that the nature of the precautions v/hlch I mentioned to His Lordship as being, in ray opinion, necesimry, should Catholics be perniitted to reside on Arorae and Tamana, were a resident Eui'opean Administrative Officer on each island supported by a force of Armed IJative Constabulary in sufficient strength to intimidate and overawe the native population, I added that, quite apart from the great expense which this would involve, I doubted whether in any case it would commend itself to the govermaent as being right in principle. It would be a strange kind of toleration which has to be introduced at the point of the bayonet against the xinited wish of the people". 20.2.40# Those remarks apply with equal force to the Bishop's second stato-acut •

4. It will be seen from the above that the Bishop's statements are substantially accurate, thou^ he has certainly selected such of my remarks as suit his argument and onltted the rest. Read in the li^t of para. 3 above it will, I think, be agreed that they are not in conflict with my official attitude, which has been consistent through out and is fully on record in the High Comidssion files - vide ^ ; para. 2 of j j and para, 7 of (111), It will be seen that in all correspondence I have based my arguiacnts in favo\ir of Closed Districts (and, as I^r Gai'vey says, I have consistently supported the measure) not on the likelihood oi"' unlikelihood of a broach of the peace occurring on the attempt to introduce an tmwanted sect into a primitive ooamnmity, but on whether such intro duction is or is not in the best interests of Uxe coimiunlty as being conducive to their welfare and happiness. Where a peaceful and united ooimnunity ask to be spared the miseries of inter-sectarian strife I think that they ai'e entitled to a sympathetic hearing and to our protection even although, except on Arorae and Tamana, I believe that no riots or violence are reaaonabUpg^;!kely to follow the introduction of a second sect, and^even on these islands it Is surely posaiblo for tiio GovoriMent, by a show of force, to intinil-

date the people 4

- 3 -

date the people sufficiently to prevent any possibility of

serious trouble. Copy. i:

Office of the Hi^ Coniniissloner

for the Western Pacific,

Suva, Fiji.

14th March, 1942.

Madam,

It is with much pleasure that I enclose herewith for your information a copy of a paragraph of my despatch to the Secretary of State for the Colonies No. 17 of the 4th instant, in which I forwarded to him a copy of your

husband's Report on his Mission to Pitcairn.

I take this opportunity to state officially how

much I have appreciated the consistent and admirable manner In which you have, both in the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony and in Pitcairn, seconded your husband's efforts for the welfare of the peoples under his charge.

I am.

Madam,

Your obedient servant,

(Signed). Hi,C.. .Luke.

Hi^ Commissioner.

H.E, Maude,

ROTORUA. •I

Copy I Office of the Hi^ Commissioner

for the Western Pacific,

No. 2698. Suva, Fiji.

4th March, 1942.

Sir,

With reference to your letter of the 6th June,

1941, I am directed "by the High Commissioner for the

Western Pacific to convey to you an expression of His

Excellency's thanks for your most interesting and

informative report on your visit to Pitcairn Island in

1940-41 and on conditions generally in the island.

2. I am at the same time to convey to you His

Excellency's warm, appreciation of the capable manner in which you conducted your mission to the island and on the

highly satisfactory and successful results achieved. I

am to attach for your information and that of Mrs. Maude

a copy of the conculding paragraph of His Excellency's

covering despatch.

I am.

Sir,

Your obedient servant,

(Signed). H.H. Vaskess.

Secretary to the Hi^ Commission.

Maud Esq., M.B.E., Suva, • •^ h ^ EXCERPT.

Office of the High Coniinissioner

for the 7/estern Pacific,

WESTERN PACIFIC. Suva, Fiji. No. 17. March, 1942.

My Lord,

••• ••• ••• •••

21. I am confident that Your Lordship v;ill share my appreciation of the capable manner in which Mr Maude

has conducted a difficult mission and of the higjily satisfactory and successful outcome of his visit achieved

as a result of able and tactful handling of the people.

No small share of the credit for securing the confidence of the islanders, without which the mission must have largely failed, is due to Mrs Maude for her success in winning the respect and liking of the women of the island, as she also has of the Gilbertese among whom

she has been stationed.

I have etc.,

H.C. LUKE,

High Commissioner.

The Right Honourable

the SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES,

r ' The Flats, Pretoria btreet Vest, Ro to ru a. 14th Apri I, 1942.

DearSnowy, The tact that I am writing you a letter should not be .misconstrued to mean that 1 am present leading an indolent life with plenty of time tor writing letters.Far from it. Being the sole male member of the household at present, I perform the duit i es of cook, bottle-washer, gardener, bed-maker, and heavens knows what else. How ever there are one or two matters about which 1 must advise you. The day before I left Suva, Vaskess said there might be some last minute official mail, and sure enough there was. I handed the two letters to Navy Office in Auckland for transmission to the addressees and I enclose their receipt for them. whilst in Suva, I had asked Eastman to let me have a list show ing roughly the numbers remaining at Rongorongo, in case more could be return ed to their islands later on. He forgot togive it to me in Suva, and on the boat, but sent it to^ me here. I enclose it. It shoub go on the relevant fi le for the information may be needecf later on. 1 had a pretty hectic time during my first two days in Auckland, The first day I had three appointments with the dentist, so as to clear that out of the way. Fortunately, only three smell fillings were required, which is pretty good ^ping after an absence from the dentist's chair of five years. The following day I went to see Sir Carrick, and presented your letter of introduction. He had a good look at me and seemed to think that I should have a month's treat ment for my legs. He did not comment very much on my legs, but seemed .to think that treatment at Rotorua would do my legs good, and my health generally as well. So up to Rotorua I came - a wearying train journey. Honor and Alaric were both absent as they away staying with Sir Carrick's son on the farm at Te Kuiti. They have not yet returned but are I under stand coming back at the end of this week. The first day I was here I was able to shock Delia a bit by telling her about the telegram I had received the previous day from H.E. stating that the S. of S. had offered me the post of Assistant Colonial Secretary, Trinidad, on s ecobdm ent f rom the Western Pacific service for two years. H. E. <ô Id me in his telegram that he has not made the news public until he gets my reply. That has now been sent. But of course if the news has not yet been given out, please display abysm al ignorance of thewhole thing. I can tell yo u it cameas a riiide shock to me, for, as was the case with my job of 'Assistant Secretary, I never applied for any such transfer or secondment, nor mentioned the subject to H. £. at any time. It was a bold! from the blue. The post was offered to me subject to my being passed as medically fit, and therein lies the snag. After seeing Sir Carrick, i saw Dr. Duncan, the Government Balneologist here. The latter thought that my legs required six weeks treatrnent, so I had to reply toH. E. that 1 accepted the secondment, but could not obtai'n the necessary medical certiticate tt r six weeks, and hoped that that would not prejudice the matter. Actual ly, as I have only had I year's leave in 10 years service, and it is five years since my last leave land I have had two serious attacks ot phlebitis during those tive years), I scarcely think they can deny me a very modest six weeks leave here. Financially, the post is not very attractive, in my present post, I rise to £840, whereas in Trinidad I can only rise to £800. In my present post I rise by increments ot £30, whereas in Trini dad the Increments are only ^25. in my present post the position regarding leave passages is generous, whereas in Trinidad I am NOT entitled to any leave passage grants. In Fiji, I get a house allowance ot £75 per annurji, whereas in Trinidad I am not entitled to tree quarters or an al lowance in lieu thereot. at the moment I draw salary £6o0 and house allowance £75 which eruals £735, but the otter ot secondment is on £700. In Fiji, I could have climbed to £840 plus £75, wh'i ch equals £9 15, whereas in Trinidad I can only rise to £800. 1 am hoping theretore that H. E. may suggest to the S. ot 5. that I enter the scale at £725 or £750, as I am now on £735 and have done three months towards my next increment. It is with no little regret that I have accepted the otter ot secondment. Indeed, it is the tact that it iw® i,s two years secondment, and not an outright transter, that makes the otter attractive, tor 1 imagine that at the end ot the two years I shaM be given the option ot staying there it I like it, or, it I do not like it, ot returning to the V/.P.H.C. I have a very deep and sincere love tor the Pacitic and its peopies, and teel that by accepting this otter, I am guilty ot treacherous desertion, especially at the presant time. But as I say the otter is only a secondment, which gives me the opportunity to return. i spoke to Garvey about the business and he thinks I am tully right in accepting the otter. Pte pointed out that he had to serve tor 8 years as Assistant Secretary betore he got a transter and then it was only to the New Heb rides, still within the Pacitic area. Pie said that chances ot transter trom the Facitic to other territories do not otten occur, and it I retused this one 1 might have to wait a long time. Further, he pointed out tha I had already retuded one transter otter, to Fiji, in 1937, and a second retusal might prejudice my position later. An additional reason tor acceptanceot theotter is that Delia hates Fiji. Typically, she does not know why; she doesJ She has otten, whilst we were in Fiji, said to me that she longed to return to the G. E. I. C. , and 1 am sure her wishes were ruiF< sincere. But 1 think the real determining tactor was the thought ot having to labour tor another tew years under H. H. V. H. E. has, ot course, been amazingly kind to me, but it has rendered my position ectremely invidious at times. H. E. has now done nearly tour years in Fiji and wi II doubtless soon be moving on elsewhere. I do not know what sort ot a spin I should receive trom old H.P1.V, atter PI.E's departure. Pretty grim, 1 guess, j love the work with all my./heartT and desire nothing better2. than• to labour tor the welfare of P'aci ti c peoples, but 1 got fed up with H.H.V's surliness and inconsistencies. He has got a magnificent staff there, all of whom are willing and keen to get on with things, but he has simply no idea how to get the best, or indeed anyhting, out of then. With Ronald or yourself as Secretary, the job ot Assistant Secretary would have been a crackerjack one, one hard to beat anywhere. But under the present holder of the former post, Anyway two years away from him will do no harm. But I guess I will hate to be away from the Pacific, and 1 shall be honoured if you, despite the fact that you are a very senior officer to me, will send me news of happenings, particularly regarding the G.E. I. C. from time to tirre, I know ham going to feel pretty lost an.d lonely without all my old înterests. There are one or two matters which 1 should be grateful if you would settle in Suva on my behalf,^ that is assuming that I go, and the delay in the issue of the medical certificate does not prejudice the secondment. The first is the question ot the car. Obviously, alas, of no further use to me and 1 would be most grateful if you would purchase it outright as you suggested earlier. I'm damned if 1 know what a fair price is and leave it to you to purchase it at whatever price you think fair; perhaps a garage could give you some' idea ot the value of such models. (Of course do'nt forget to add on a lot extra for those precious 2 gallons odd ot benzine which I left to you for your night workJl Could you please pay the money tor the car into my account with the Bank ot New South Wales in Suva ? There are several odds and ends ot mine in the office about which I do not care very much, but there are two things that 1 wouldparticularly like. The first is the map from the Reorganiz ation report in my drawer in the new desk, shewing all my various travels in the Western Pacific. Could you have this sent to me in due course please ? The second thing is the copy of my report on the Ellice andTokelua Islands, of which I have a copy signed by myself on thick blue paper. It is in the small cupboard in the thing that stands on Inoke's desk; the cupboard where the "confid ential tiles are kept. 1 do hope that 1 can have it, but 1 think, in view of its nature, you had better ask H. E. first. He may not wish that it should be sent through the post, and in that case I suppose it will have to be held forme in Suva until such time as It may be possible to send. it. 1 know that it is no literary effort but 1 am damned proud of it. ^ There are also all my law books, which are my personal possess ions. I do not Want them in Trinidad, so they had better stay in Suva. Perhaps the High Commission office or one of the territories would be interested in purchasing them ? "One thing I deeply regret and that is that it seems that we shall be unable to collaborate on our famous Reconstruction report of the G. E. 1. C. I was damned keen to do it and you will remember how I begged H. E. to al low me some time ott to do my part, , unavailing plea alas, with this result. So 1 guess you will have o do the whole thing. Anyway it will be well done, and it is p.lea^san.t to know that. iViake a good show of the section on commun i cat ion^*' abou which I teel so keenly. It is absolutely imperative to get that 'ârt of the scheme through. Any advice you need on this part of the repor I know Steel will mos,t willingly give you. I have considered the possibility of writing my sections down here, but it is out of 'the question I fear. For exiaple, the section on transfer of head- " cuarters would be impossible to v/r i t e effect'vely without the relevant file and references. Similarly, to some extent, with the section on communications. 7or this, you wi II find a lot of good arguments in the file,wherein the original scheme was put up from Ocean island - in 1937 I think for Ronald end I did a despatch on it in 1938. what happened about Rambi and V/akaya for the Banebans ? Did Levers try to wriggle ? amd, if so, with what success ? The Old Boy, whom I wi II. always hereafter refer to as 0. B., in a recent letter to Delia writes " H. £. M., though he has broken away as a lodger, I to work at nights, he says - but I hear of him dining out all the same), comes in to lunch every day; and you can tell Honor that he is looking better than j have ever seen him look - not on account of the rftunches of course, as i try to keep him to his alleged preference for grass. But on curry days - OH. BOYI!! ". what is all this business about dining out at nights ? You vill observe that you are still suspecti But I do hope you are really being left in peace and that pressure on you has not been renewed. iNiot having seen Honor yet, I have said nothing and as~if wi II be some time now before I do see her las we had a telegram this morning saying she was going to Auckland to have her teeth X-rayed) I think I shall say nothing, despite H. E's request. No other news that I can think of at the moment. I have having fairly intensive treatment here and feel in much better general health already, i started off with radium baths, then had pyretic bat -hs and am now having Aix baths (massage under running water under which they pummel me like a lump of raw beefsteak. I will write again sometime and, although 1 know you do not like writing letters much, and will of course be bi'rning the tjiidnight oil I in the office or with fvio I Iy I do' nt know) these days, you do know I think how much news of the territories wi II mean to me. Yours eve r, ; f.S, Jijvc ^ ij ^lUiU I* 4u futM i ^ to 'tivilmi ^ • fe jttv •' /'W pi/it, f fivt 4m, f-i. > •< ' W^ f ^ e 9 8 2

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m- -;9-; ^ X' Office of the High Gominissioner for the Western Pacific, Western Pacific. Suva', Fiji,

Wo- sit. 13th July, ASkZ,

Sir,

With reference to ray demi-official letter of the 24th Pehruary, 19i}-0, to lir, G.J« Jefferies, G.II.G, ,0,B.E, ,• and suhseguont telegraphic correspondence regarding the appointnent of Hr. 11.E. IJaude, I'.B.E,, to tlie position of Ghief Lands Goramissioner, ailhert and Ellice Islands Colony, I have the honour to address' you further concerning the future of this officer.

2, At the time of writing in 19^.10 it was anticipated that Mr. Maude would liave hegun his worfa in the Gilhert Islands before tiio end of the year aaid that hy 1943 he would have trained one of the younger officers in the Aciminictrative Service to succeed lilm. As it eventually transpired, however, Mr. Maude*© specialized knovvledge of the Jestem Pacific made it imperative to second him for a variety of tasks. On returning from sick leave in February, 1940, he was detailed to prepare an historical report on various Pacific Islands, which has since been printed; following upon wliich he was seconded for special duty in Pitcairn Island to reorganize the administration ,and prepare a constitution and code of lav;s, which hasalso now appeared in print• '

3. On returning from Pitcairn Island in May, 1941, Mr. Ms^e was seconded to act as Agent and Consul, Tonga, until the end of September, whereupon he was again seconded to the Government of the Kingdom of Tonga in order to reorganize the European branch of the Civil Service, His Report on the Public Service, which has since been approved in toto by the Tongan Government, iias ;just been published and is being forwarded to Your Lordsliip by this mail. In December, 1941, Mr, Maude was attached to the Western Pacific High Commission secretariat and since March has been acting as First Assistant Secretary.

4. I have had considerable opportunities of observing Mr, Maude*s work closely during the last three years and, while I am in agrearaent with Mr, Jefferies* view that duxdng his earlier years in the service he exhibited a great interest in the problems of native administration the practical application of anthropological metliodsto the Oovemment of native races, I am convinced that this was at any rate partly due to thei»e being no other outlet for his • / f e energy and ability at the time and that his main interests '% and aptitude lie in seeretarlal work. X find that this w': bent was shown early in Mr, Maude*s career and in this connexion I would guote from a despatch written by the Acting

N' Resident Cooiaissioner to Sir M. Fletcher as long ago as 1933:- .. . V). *'Mr. Maude has shown that he posseeses a special aptitude for secretarial work and office organization and I feel it to be my duty to bring this special qualification to the notice of Your Ezoellency", 5* fly reason in bringing Mr. Maude's secretariat aptitude to Your Lordship's notice is the fact that his health has undoubtedly been undermined by ftis long residence In the outlying islands of the Gilbert and Ellice Groups, over a period more than twice as long as that of any other offleer at present in the Administrative service and veil i*tiM Bcinourable S#«r«tary of State for the Colonies. over .:

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over the maximum limit of ten years laid down in the Reorganization Report. I am doubtful, therefore, if Mr, Lladde will be able, on health grounds, to return for long to the vigorous and exacting conditions of life necessitated by lands work on the more isolated atolls; and at t he same time I am anxious that his specialized knowledge and abilitiesshould not be lost to the Government by his being prematurely retired on pension.

6. I suggest that Mr. Maude be retained to act as First Assistant Secretary to the High Gonrnission until the end of the war pemits the resuj75)tion of normal lands work, when I had'proposed, had I still been here, that he should return to the Gilbert Islands for a period in order to initiate the new programne of lands settlement and train his successor. Should, however, the secondment of Mr. P.P. Macdonald to Trinidad be changed to a permanent transfer, \ I would suggest tliat Mr, Maude bo thereupon appointed forth with to the substantive position of Fjj?st Assistant secretary and that a junior officer should act in liis place while he is temporarily absent on the work mentioned above.

7. In making this suggestion I have duly considered the fact tliat IJr. tlaude is the only Grade I, adiiainistrative officer in the High Coiaoission service. The post of First Assistant Secretary has, however, increased greatly in importance during recent years and I consider it fitting that tho holder., who has frecjuently to act as Seci^tary, should be a senior Grade I, officei^. This is already the case -on the Fiji Secretariat, wherethe post of Assistant Colonial Secretary is held by a Grade I, officer.

I have, etc,,

. •; ' i . •f (Signed) ll,C. Luke,

High ConmiiBsioner,

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